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Blake Cullen, a New York City businessman, was looking to expand into the Norfolk area for hockey. He arranged an exhibition game between the Virginia Lancers and the Carolina Thunderbirds (originally listed as the Carolina Cougars) to take place at the Norfolk Scope.[2] Cullen said that he "would be happy with 3,000 fans and 4,000 or more would be very encouraging.[2] " The game, played on a Wednesday night between a fourth and fifth place team, drew over 6,200 fans.[3] Because of the turnout, the ECHL was willing to offer Cullen a new franchise for free. However, when a group of five businessmen offered the league $25,000 for territorial rights, Commissioner Pay Kelly told Cullen that he "was a man of his word" and offered the franchise to him for the same price, in which Cullen accepted.[4]

A naming contest would be held in the summer of 1989. Betty Ann Den Decker would win the contest with the name "Admirals".[5]

The Hampton Roads Admirals were introduced for the 1989-90 season and developed a rivalry with the Virginia Lancers of Vinton, Virginia throughout the season. The Admirals provided "attention and credibility to the ECHL[6] by drawing an average of 5,885 fans in their inaugural season. Until the Admirals joined the league, owners considered 2,000 fans to be "a good crowd.[6] They would make the post-season in their first season, going 29-29-2[7] before losing to the Erie Panthers 3 games to 2 in a five game series of the opening round of the Riley Cup playoffs.[8] The credibility also caught the attention of two NHL teams: the Detroit Red Wings and the Washington Capitals. Detroit agreed to send eight prospects, while the Washington Capitals agreed to sending a goaltender and an unspecified number of players.[6]

The Admirals were the flagship franchise of the ECHL, having won Jack Riley Cups in 1991 and 1992, and the Patrick J. Kelly Cup in 1998. The three championships won by the franchise is matched only by the South Carolina Stingrays and Alaska Aces. Two years later, the Admirals moved up to the American Hockey League (AHL).